Museum Security (Broadway Meltdown)

(In the Style of) Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960 – 1988, American of Haitian and Puerto Rican descent), “Museum Security (Broadway Meltdown) 1983” - Oil on Canvas reproduction measuring 35.5 inches square (unframed) with the paint wrapping around the edges. The work of art consists of black paint over a white background featuring various scrawled words, vivid colors, symbols, images, phrases, etc. associated with the famed street artist in his neo-expressionist graffiti style. On the verso is painted text that reads ‘1985 Samo Samo Jean Michel Basquiat’ with a three-pointed crown and a streak of yellow/gold toned paint.

Notable in the artwork in stream of conscious fashion are the words Esso, Asbestos, Rome, 400 Yen and Priceless Art, Basquiat’s own monogram, his signature crown, a hand with an outstretched index finger, an African mask, a shield-like emblem, political references to Papa Doc and Hooverville, and canceled/obscured words with a line drawn through in order to call attention to them.

The original artwork by Basquiat was an acrylic, oil stick and paper collage on canvas measuring 84 x 84 in. (213.4 x 213.4 cm.) Painted in 1983, it sold at auction for $14.5 million dollars on February 13, 2013 at Christie's London — Post-War & Contemporary Art Evening Auction.